The days of the criminal and anti-social landlords are at long last coming to an end. Tough new powers to crack down on these landlords will soon be available to councils throughout Teesside.

Local authorities such as Middlesbrough will be allowed to introduce a new landlord licensing system.

This will mean landlords within the jurisdiction of Middlesbrough Council will only be allowed to continue in business if they meet high standards. Those landlords who try to continue to let properties without a valid licence will then be committing criminal offences with penalties up to £20,000.

In addition, those who manage to obtain licences but are later found to be operating anti-social businesses will have their licences removed and the council can then take over their properties and run them until an alternative landlord can be found.

This should put a stop to unscrupulous landlords in Middlesbrough who have been buying up cheap property in rundown areas and either leaving them empty and derelict or bringing in antisocial tenants.

This, in turn, should bring an end to hundreds of decent families being forced to live with neighbours from hell, and with it negative equity on their properties.

Middlesbrough Council must impose this new legislation, once it is on the statute books, at its earliest opportunity.

The people have spoken and, thank God, the Government is now listening.